Ortografía · S4
Sound-Alikes
their / there / they're and friends
se oyen igual
In this unit
There, their and they’re sound identical but mean different things — same with your/you’re and its/it’s. You can’t hear the difference, so you spell them by meaning. Examiners love catching these.
**There**, ** their** y ** they’re** suenan igual pero significan cosas distintas — igual que ** your/you’re** e ** its/it’s**. No se distinguen de oído: se escriben por ** significado**.
El slang se queda en la frase. Toca la palabra con puntos — o clic derecho — y sale qué significa.
The rule · La regla
there = a place (or ‘there is/are’). their = belonging to them. they’re = they are. your = belonging to you; you’re = you are. its = belonging to it; it’s = it is. Trick: if you can say the two words (‘it is’), use the apostrophe one.
~there~ = un *lugar* (o ‘hay’). ~their~ = *de ellos*. ~they’re~ = *they are*. ~your~ = tu; ~you’re~ = tú eres/estás. ~its~ = su (de ello); ~it’s~ = es/está. Truco: si puedes decir las dos palabras (‘it is’), usa la del apóstrofo.
The story of English · la historia
Why do 'meet', 'meat' and 'mete' sound the same but look different? Because they began as different words with different sounds. Then a huge change called the Great Vowel Shift (about 1400–1700) moved many vowels around, and several old words ended up sounding identical. But the spelling was already fixed, so each word kept its own old look. That is why English is full of homophones: same sound, different spelling, different meaning. The spelling is actually helping you — it keeps 'their', 'there' and 'they're' apart on the page.
¿Por qué 'meet', 'meat' y 'mete' suenan igual pero se escriben distinto? Porque empezaron como palabras diferentes con sonidos diferentes. Luego, un cambio enorme llamado el Gran Desplazamiento Vocálico (hacia 1400–1700) movió muchas vocales, y varias palabras antiguas acabaron sonando igual. Pero la ortografía ya estaba fijada, así que cada palabra conservó su forma antigua. Por eso el inglés está lleno de homófonos: mismo sonido, distinta escritura, distinto significado. En realidad la ortografía te ayuda: mantiene 'their', 'there' y 'they're' separadas sobre el papel.
How it works · Cómo funciona
1. Can you swap in ‘they are’? they’re. ‘It is’? it’s. ‘You are’? → → → you’re.
2. Talking about a place, or ‘there is’? there.→
3. Belonging to them / you / it? their / your / its (no → apostrophe).
Write these · Escríbelas
| word | means | español |
|---|---|---|
| there | place / ‘there is’ | allí / hay |
| their | of them | su (de ellos) |
| they’re | they are | ellos son/están |
| your | of you | tu |
| you’re | you are | tú eres/estás |
| its | of it | su (de ello) |
| it’s | it is / it has | es / está |
Why it’s tricky in spanish · ¿Por qué cuesta?
Spanish uses different words (allí, su, es), so this trap is purely English spelling. Don’t guess — do the swap test: expand the apostrophe (‘they’re’ ‘they are’). If the long version fits, the → apostrophe is right.
El español usa palabras distintas (allí, su, es), así que esta trampa es solo de ortografía inglesa. Haz la prueba: expande el apóstrofo (‘they’re’ ‘they are’). → Si encaja, el apóstrofo va bien.
★ remember it · Truco para recordarlo
“they are? they’re. it is? it’s.” “place is there — no need for fights;” “their and your and its stay bare:” “no apostrophe living there.”
See it in the wild
•They’re bringing their mates, and you’re invited too.
Traen a “sus” colegas, y tú también estás invitado.
•It’s wild how the app lost its whole .
Es fuerte cómo la app perdió todo su rollo.
•Your edit? It’s a W, .
¿Tu edit? Es un puntazo, de verdad.
Ready to try? Say it before you check.
Spelling sticks when you write it — have a proper go.
AChoose the correct word.
Elige la palabra correcta.
1. (There / Their / They’re) going to the drop.
2. I love (there / their / they’re) new merch.
3. Put it over (there / their / they’re).
4. (Your / You’re) so real for that.
5. The dog wagged (its / it’s) tail.
BExpand the apostrophe word (they’re → they are).
Expande la forma con apóstrofo.
1. it’s →
2. you’re →
3. they’re →
CFix the mistake.
Corrige el fallo.
1.“There going to there house.” →
2.“Your right, its cold.” →
How did you do? Did you check the answers?
¿Qué tal? ¿Has mirado las soluciones al final?
✓ this one’s mine now
ESTO YA ES MÍO
I spell there/their/they’re by meaning.
Escribo there/their/they’re por significado.
I use the swap test for apostrophes.
Uso la prueba de sustitución para los apóstrofos.
I chanted the rhyme out loud till it stuck.
Canté el ritmo en voz alta hasta que se me quedó.
I said the sounds out loud, not just in my head.
Dije los sonidos en voz alta, no solo en mi cabeza.
I can hear the difference now, not only see it.
Ahora oigo la diferencia, no solo la veo.
Big brain energy. Sealed.
Menudo cerebrazo. Cerrado.